Shepherd and Davis plea agreements

In March 2008, Ronnie Eugene “Butch” Davis and Jack Willis “Jackie” Shepherdentered plea agreements in federal court and explained their involvement in an illegal gambling operation. The pleas are the latest in the federal government’s wide-ranging investigation into illegal gambling involving video-poker machines in Western North Carolina, a case that has netted video-poker-machine owners and law-enforcement officers.

Davis, 60, served as a lieutenant under former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford. Shepherd, a Weaverville businessman, was a political supporter of Medford’s and donated cash to his campaign. Shepherd agreed to forfeit property and money to the federal government, including almost $700,000 in money, two vehicles and three pieces of property, including Billy Jack’s Flea Market in Madison County. Click here to download a PDF of the document.

Shepherd agreed to plead guilty to running an illegal gambling operation through his business Western Amusements, Inc. and to testify against others involved. In return, charges against his son and stepson are dropped. Click here to download a PDF of the document.

In this document, Shepherd pleads guilty to running an illegal gambling operation through his Western Amusements, Inc. business, making more than $2,000 a day from 41 illegal video-poker machines in 10 locations throughout Buncombe and Madison Counties. Click here to download a PDF of the document.

Davis confirmed an unwritten deal with the government, pleading guilty to 11 charges, including extortion, mail fraud, illegally transporting money and running an illegal operation involving registration stickers for video-poker machines while he oversaw the program for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. Click here to download a PDF of the document.

In this July 21, 2008, court filing, Davis’ attorney asks the court to consider the attorney’s travel plans when scheduling a sentencing hearing. “It would be the request of the undersigned that the sentencing hearing be held either on or prior to August 12 or on or subsequent to August 25,” the filing by attorney Charles R. Brewer states.

About Jason Sandford

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